No it isn’t a hangover cure, but silver nanoparticles of just a few atoms can protect against the cell damage caused by ethanol.

Nanosilver, used as a bactericidal agent, was suspended in solution and found to be toxic, sometimes lethal, to minnows, a Purdue University study showed.

SAFENANO provides a summary of key nano health and safety developments from 2009, and considers how these are likely to shape nano in 2010.

A European consortium has just published a review of the health and safety of engineered nanomaterials.

In a few decades human and machine will merge, illness will be eradicated, and human beings will live to 150. Take a journey into the imaginations of scientists and futurists pondering ways to use nanotechnologies, and discussions about how society should or could use them.

Nano silver in polymer semi-conductors can boost the materials’ generation of electrical current taking us a step closer to lighter, cheaper, and more-flexible solar cells.

At the “EKKA”, a quick and dirty survey to get an idea of the public’s knowledge about nanotech didn’t reveal too many surprises, though with all the mention of nanotech in the media, Hollywood movies and the hoard of blood-splattered, shoot ‘em up Playstation games, it was interesting that about a quarter of people had never even heard of the term nanotechnology.

Nanotechnologies are being used to reduce food particles to smaller sizes to improve food characteristics, and to make plastic food packaging stronger, lighter or perform better. Are there any risks? The behaviour of manufactured nano-particles in foods and food packaging, as well as in our bodies is currently an area of active research.

Nano-silver is in loads of products and has great anti-microbial properties, but it is also toxic as its nano size enables it to enter cells and disrupt cellular function. An Italian team has now found a way to immobilize the silver nanoparticles in a sugar-based gel that allows the silver to exert its bactericidal activity but without any toxic effects to other cells.